Bai Jintong smiled humbly: “On this point… Gongxing did learn from the world’s foremost righteous merchant, Xiao Rongyan.”
The Xiliang Empress’s steps paused as she gazed at the moonlight streaming through the small, high window. Under the pale light, dust motes danced as she said in a low voice: “I… have been in contact with you for a long time, even considered you a friend. I felt you were hiding things deeply and had many similarities with me, young… but able to keep your composure, seemingly harboring secrets that made me very curious.”
Bai Jintong quickly bowed deeply, repeatedly protesting that she didn’t dare.
The Xiliang Empress chuckled softly upon hearing this.
“Cui Fengnian, Cui Gongxing… I sent people to investigate, and indeed, there is such a person who did supposedly go overseas for business!” The smile on the Xiliang Empress’s face slowly faded. She casually placed the bamboo scroll on the square table and turned to look at Bai Jintong with cold, stern eyes: “But Cui Fengnian… is a man!”
The Xiliang Empress lifted the hem of her robe and sat down at the square table with an air of looking down upon the world, gazing at Bai Jintong: “Gongxing, having reached this point, will you still not tell the truth? Are you planning… to make me verify your identity right here in this cell?”
Bai Jintong’s lips curved in a smile as she also lifted the hem of her robe and sat down across from the Xiliang Empress. Her eyes were clear, showing no trace of fear or panic, only saying: “Since Your Majesty already knows, Gongxing won’t hide it from Your Majesty. As fellow women… Your Majesty should understand the hardships women face in establishing themselves in the world – it’s all done out of necessity.”
“Then, Gongxing… what is your surname and given name? Where do you live? Can you speak plainly?” The Xiliang Empress stared fixedly at Bai Jintong, who dared to meet her gaze directly.
“Your Majesty, this humble one’s surname is Cui… given name Fengnian. Since Your Majesty sent people to investigate Fengnian, you should know that Fengnian’s mother nearly faced abandonment in her early years. If she hadn’t given birth to the son Fengnian, my father would have elevated his outside mistress to the position of principal wife!” Bai Jintong spoke slowly. “This… is why Gongxing, though a daughter, had to disguise herself as a man. Later… it was naturally to prevent the family property from being seized by the clan, and after that… it was for the convenience of traveling outside.”
This reason was plausible. If the Xiliang Empress remembered correctly, Jin Dynasty had the most severe male superiority and female inferiority, with women completely dependent on men for survival, rarely producing heroic figures like Da Zhou’s Empress.
But the problem was, the Xiliang Empress had brought in members of the Cui clan. That day, the Xiliang Empress had specifically sent people to bring Cui Fengnian to the palace so the two could meet face to face. But Cui Fengnian didn’t recognize the Cui clan members, and the Cui clan members identified her as not being Cui Fengnian.
Cui Gongxing… wasn’t telling the truth!
But the Xiliang Empress didn’t voice this in front of Bai Jintong. The Xiliang Empress would pretend to believe Cui Gongxing’s words… then release her, and afterward send people to watch the movements of Cui Gongxing’s subordinates. Even the strongest wall would let wind through, even the strongest paper couldn’t wrap up fire.
“Gongxing, I… will give you one chance. Since Jin Kingdom has already become Da Zhou, why not… become a person of Xiliang instead?” the Xiliang Empress probed.
“Your Majesty, my mother’s grave is still in Da Zhou. Gongxing does not dare to be unfilial,” Bai Jintong politely declined.
The Xiliang Empress nodded: “Very well, I suppose I was overthinking. Now that you’ve been detained here for so long, the grain shops outside have fallen into chaos. Indeed, I can’t keep you here any longer. I’ve already sent someone to the Cui residence to notify your steward. At this moment… a carriage is already waiting for you outside the prison. Go…”
Bai Jintong didn’t act coy, standing and bowing deeply to the Xiliang Empress: “Gongxing thanks Your Majesty!”
The Xiliang Empress waved her hand. Seeing Bai Jintong leave the prison with the eunuch, she looked back at the bamboo scroll books Bai Jintong had left on the black lacquered square table, casually picked one up and began reading it under the lamp, speaking deliberately: “Send people to keep close watch on Cui Fengnian and the several capable head stewards around Cui Fengnian.”
“Yes!” The eunuch who had followed the Xiliang Empress bowed and responded.
Bai Jintong’s fists clenched tightly at her sides as she controlled her steps, emerging from the prison that reeked of mold and dampness. The moment she stepped out of the prison’s main gate, the cool breeze that hit her face carried a freshness that hadn’t existed inside the jail.
“Young Master Fengnian!” As soon as Chen Qingsheng saw Bai Jintong emerge, he lifted the hem of his robe and hurried forward, smiling as he bowed to the two guards who had escorted Bai Jintong out, offering them two leather money pouches: “Thank you for your hard work! This small token is for you, brothers, to have tea!”
The guards weighed the money pouches in their hands – they were quite heavy. Smiling, they tucked them into their robes and grinned at Chen Qingsheng: “Steward Chen is too kind! Steward Chen has come so often during this period, but we brothers truly received orders from above not to reveal anything about Young Master Cui. Please forgive us, Steward Chen.”
“Not at all! You brothers carry on with your work, I’ll escort our young master home first!” Chen Qingsheng just smiled and cupped his hands, then supported Bai Jintong’s elbow as they walked down the steps.
Bai Jintong looked down at the steps as she descended, asking: “Was it you who raised the grain prices?”
“Young Master, please get in the carriage first – we’ll talk when we get back…” Chen Qingsheng maintained a respectful manner, supporting Bai Jintong down the steps and quickly signaling the coachman to bring over the mounting block, whispering instructions: “Young Master, when you get in the carriage in a moment, please don’t be too surprised!”
Hearing Chen Qingsheng say this, Bai Jintong’s heart suddenly tightened. She nodded and stepped onto the mounting block to climb into the carriage…
The exquisite carriage was made of elm wood wrapped in copper, with lanterns hanging from the four corners. The moment the curtain was lifted, Bai Jintong saw sitting on the soft cushion across from the tea table a man with a proud bearing and refined, elegant features.
Warm yellow light streamed in from outside the curtain Bai Jintong had lifted, falling on the man’s dark blue robe, but casting his handsome, open features into shadow. He pressed his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture to Bai Jintong.
This restrained and quiet man, in the instant she saw him, nearly brought tears to Bai Jintong’s eyes.
Bai Jintong didn’t hesitate and entered the carriage, kneeling across from Bai Qingqi. Tears fell like broken pearls as she struggled to suppress her sobs.
Outside the carriage came Chen Qingsheng’s voice as he instructed the coachman to go forward and lead the horses – he would personally drive the carriage for the young master. The coachman responded.
Bai Qingqi looked at Bai Jintong, dressed as a man and kneeling across from him with heroic bearing, his smiling eyes reddening as he reached out to pat Bai Jintong’s head: “Jintong… you’ve grown up. I never expected that after Third Brother left for a few years, Jintong would already be able to help Eldest Sister.”
“Third Brother…” The moment Bai Jintong spoke, she couldn’t help the tears in her voice. She had thought Eldest Sister would send someone, guessed that Eldest Sister might send Second Sister, or even that Eldest Sister herself might come to Xiliang, risking danger to save her. But she had never imagined… that her Third Brother was alive and had come to Xiliang to rescue her!
She had thought Third Brother was gone! She had thought… she would never see Third Brother again!